Reflective Essay: Critical Thinking and Decision Making Abilities

This reflective essay delves into the critical thinking and decision-making capabilities of a manager, examining how these skills optimize leadership in complex organizational situations. The essay begins by defining critical thinking and its importance, then explores relevant concepts, theories, and models, including psychological contracts, abductive reasoning, triangulation, and Kallet's framework. It provides a rationale for selecting these frameworks and models, analyzing their influence on individual decision-making processes within a management context. The author assesses their own self-knowledge and areas for self-development, highlighting strengths and weaknesses identified through DISC analysis. Finally, the essay outlines steps for improving communication and adaptability to enhance decision-making skills and overall leadership effectiveness. This assignment, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-powered study tools and resources for students, including past papers and solved assignments.

Running head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY
REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Introduction
Critical thinking and decision making capabilities of a manger enables the same in
optimizing the leadership control in multifaceted situations that are faced by the organizations.
The decision making capabilities of a leader is specifically dependent on the rational cognition of
the variables and the assessment of wider range of alternative solutions while implementing the
most relevant solution in the contingency. Dell (2017) defined critical thinking as the capability
of a leader through which the same analyzes the situation and thereby develops a decision as per
the needs of overcoming the concern. In this elation, the reflective piece will develop an
assessment of my critical thinking abilities based on the activities that were done in class.
Moreover, the assessment of the theories and models that are relevant to critical thinking would
permit me in developing an idea of their application into practice. Therefore, the discussion will
readily identify my decision making capabilities stimulated by critical thinki8ng behaviors and
thereby illuminate ways through which he decision making capabilities might be improved.
Concepts, theories and models
The classes enabled me in identifying some basic concepts and theories relating to critical
thinking which I thought would be helpful while considering the development of critical thinking
capabilities. The major concepts that I came across the session was Psychological contracts,
Abductive reasoning, Triangulation and Kallet’s framework of critical thinking. I was
generally driven towards the concepts as they validated most of the practices that are required to
be carried out by a manager while going through the critical thinking process. Among the
theories, Psychological Contracts is the one which is based on the personal beliefs and promises
relating to exchange. I believe that the psychological contracts mainly influences a manager’s
elation with the workforce based on the term of employment. On the other hand, I came across

2REFLECTIVE ESSAY
a concept relating to Abductive thinking which is critically based on the experience and
knowledge of the individuals while making a decision. I found the concept rather complex than
that of psychological contracts as it simply involved the experience of a person while operating
in a changed scenario.
Triangulation is a dynamic concept which I learned during the course of my class and
what I could make out was that the concept dealt with perspectives. The perspectives, in
triangulation, are attested with indirect measures and then analyzed. The estimation is held
correct if the answers are mostly the same for all the perspectives. The process of triangulation
is a tough concept for me from the very beginning as it emphasized on allocation of weightage
for the perspectives, which is an important activity for assessing the viability of the perspectives.
Lastly, I came across Kallet’s framework of critical thinking which is devised to improve the ‘out
of box’ thinking which is different than the automatic thought process. The reverse mechanism
of the framework was intriguing for me and I believe that it would significantly assist me in
improving my own critical thinking capabilities as per the situational needs.
Rationale for the selection of concepts, frameworks and models
Soltanzadeh and Mooney (2016) stated that psychological contracts are meagerly the
exchange of expectations and promises in an employment contract. It has been noticed that the
inclusion of promises and expectations in an employment contract enables a manager or an
employee in upholding the transparency of communication process. Moreover, Pettersen (2016)
stated that psychological contracts between a managers and employee is more like a mutual
understanding of the expectations that the parties have from the other. The nature of the
psychological contracts are being defined as relational, transactional and hybrid. A relational
contract is based on the loyalty of the management and the employees towards vice versa. On the

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other hand, the transactional contracts are specifically based on the phase where the workers in
an organization adheres to the specific terms of employment. Whereas hybrid constitutes of a
balance between the relational and transactional aspects of psychological contracts.
Abductive thinking or rational thinking procedure is being defined as a critical thinking
element where experience and observation holds the major criteria of the decision making
process (Rapanta, 2018). Micheli et al. (2019) opined that frequent observation on the outcome
of the actions and the experience gathered from the same supports the managers in improving the
rate of operations to suffice to the changing needs of the individuals or the organizations. On the
other end, Solbrekke et al. (2016) opined that abductive approach of critical thinking is
specifically based on the partiality of the experience and the predictions that are made while
running the process, which makes it different from that of inductive and deductive streaming.
Therefore, the abductive approach is specifically based on the confluence of predictions and
partial experience which strengthens the decision making process of an individual.
Green (2017) defined Triangulation as a process of validating the decision based on the
data that is cross verified through the different perspectives while inducing indirect values.
Therefore, in this relation, critical thinking is specifically dependent on the enumeration of the
values and assessment of the same to develop an idea on the multiple causes that are affecting
the critical thinking mindset of an individual. Moreover, Ayers (2016) stated that triangulation
minimizes the error of wrong decisions through validation on the points based on the indirect
weightage which enables a manager in strengthening the critical insights for valued decision
making.
Erkutlu and Chafra (2016) stated that Kallet’s framework relating to critical thinking
opposes the automatic thought processes at are considered by the humans while making a

4REFLECTIVE ESSAY
decision. The framework critically devised the movement of the decision making process based
on eh complexity of the problem and the observations that are being made during the
assessments. The framework critically acknowledged critical thinking based on the assimilation
of observations, predictions and thinking out of the box with the objective of solving an issue.
Influence of the models on the individual decision making
I am working as a manager in a firm where the psychological contracts supported me in
developing efficient relation with the employees while identifying their expectations as well.
Mostly, I make use of the relational approach with the objective of retaining the loyalty and trust
of the employees in the different processes that are planned by the hierarchy. On the other hand,
the application of the relational approach enabled me in upholding the transparency of the
operational processes which again supported me in improving the bonds of trust and confidence
between the management and the employees. On the other hand, the psychological contracts
enabled me in reducing conflicts in the workplace while promoting activities among the
employees.
Moreover, the concept of abductive thinking and reasoning enabled me in devising
strategies as per the experience that I gathered during my tenure of three years in the
organization. On the other hand, I also made use of predictions as a part of the rationality behind
a decision for encouraging the aspects of abductive thinking in the decision making systems. The
thinking procedure encouraged me in developing experimentation processes based on my prior
experiences and predictions on a process for improving the profitability of the organization.
O'Meara, Bennett and Neihaus (2016) stated that the aspects of change in the decision making
capabilities is determined through the clarity of the idea. In this relation, I face several issues in

5REFLECTIVE ESSAY
develop8ing a concrete idea on the outcomes that my predictions might bear. It discouraged me
in developing the aspects of abductive thinking process.
During my tenure in the organization I found that he process of triangulation was a but
more complex than the other concepts. The theoretical concept of triangulation varied from that
of the practical applications of assigning indirect weightage to the alternatives and running an
analysis on the same. However, I managed to develop a procedure of triangulation through
conduction of surveys with the objective of identifying the most viable option. The procedure
assisted me in collaborating and consulting with the higher management which supported me in
perfecting my decision making skills based on rationality and clear identification of the issue.
However, even today I find triangulation to be quite a complex process which requires huge
amount of intuition while assigning weightage to the perspectives, in orientation with the goals
of the organization.
Kallet’s framework relating to critical thinking has greatly helped me in anticipating the
different changes that might be undertaken by the organization with the objective of achieving
the corporate goals of the same. The framework critically focused on clarity of the idea through
frequent decision making and converging conclusions, which is against the automatic thinking
process. Moreover, the framework enabled me in identifying the rationale and the places where
the decision might be appropriately placed as per the organizational needs. The framework
enabled me in developing clarity in the process of critical thinking and decision making while
encountering adverse situations. The framework defined pathways for anticipatory thinking
which possibly reduces the risk of operations. I believe that the theory enabled me in developing
my instincts for identifying the right decision as per the contingent situation.

6REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Assessment of self-knowledge and self-development
Self- knowledge
The DISC analysis enabled me in identifying the flaws in my decision making
capabilities along with my strengths. My aim will be to strengthen my weaker sections while
revitalizing my strengths with the purpose of improving the critical thinking capability. As per
the DISC assessment I have utmost steadiness which has contributed to my decision making
capabilities in adverse situations. Maybe it is because of my instincts or my prior experience that
I could make decisions on hasty situations. However, I received lowest percentage in compliance
which might be interpreted as my lack of anticipatory thinking capabilities affecting the
parameters of the design that I undertake in the adverse situations.
The different changes in the design of decision making is specifically based on the
effectiveness of the operations while operating in the different markets. Lack of anticipatory
thinking capabilities are specifically based on the lack of specific communication between the
stakeholders which restricted my knowledge the alternatives that I might adhere to if something
goes wrong with the decision. On the other hand, I am equally poor in dominance and influence
which portrayed that neither I can communicate well with my peers nor control adverse
situations through proper decision making skills.
Lack of proficient communication with the peers affected my capabilities of building
collaboration towards the fulfillment of objectives. On the other hand, the lack of clarity in the
objective for which the decision is being undertaken has affected my capability of solving the
adverse situation. During my tenure at my workplace I received different complaints from the
workforce based on conflicts that are affecting the workflow. However, my lack of clear

7REFLECTIVE ESSAY
identification of the problem and lack of sufficient communication with the employees affected
my capabilities of mitigating the issue through application of critical thinking methodologies.
Self- development
I believe that I must take steps to develop communicability with the objective of
consulting and interacting with the subjects for better assessment of the position while making a
decision on the change. Turner, Cardinal and Burton (2017) stated that improved
communication with the employees enables a manager in identifying the problems more clearly
while applying the concepts of critical thinking as a part of the job. In this relation, I believe that
by improving my communication with the employees I would be able to identify the situations
and thereby develop clear conception on the strategies that I might implement for mitigation. On
the other hand, I think that I must develop steps to adapt myself to different organizational
situations through handling adverse market conditions and economic fluctuations. The
experience that I would gather from the adverse situations would enable me in developing a clear
conception on the different steps that might take to influence the rate of decision making.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above assessment it might be stated that the critical thinking
capabilities enables a manager in improving the decision making system while identifying eh
adverse situations. The discussion introduced different theories and frameworks based on critical
thinking and the manner in which the same might be utilized for perfecting the decision making
capabilities. During the course of the discussion I also identified the issues in my own approach
of decision making through the DISC assessment tool and the self-development activities that
might undertake for strengthening my capabilities as a decision maker in my organization.

8REFLECTIVE ESSAY
References
123test.com. (2019). DISC personality test result - free DISC types test online at 123test.com.
Retrieved 9 September 2019, from
https://www.123test.com/disc-personality-test/id=fSXMOZI4ZMCVF9G&version=
Ayers, R. B. (2016). Optimizing workforce performance: Perceived differences of army officer
critical thinking talent across level of education.
Dell, G. (2017). Regression, Critical Thinking, and the Valuation Problem Today. Appraisal
Journal, 85(3).
Erkutlu, H., & Chafra, J. (2016). Benevolent leadership and psychological well-being: The
moderating effects of psychological safety and psychological contract breach. Leadership
& organization development journal, 37(3), 369-386.
Green, N. L. (2017). Argumentation Schemes for Critical Thinking on Current Events.
In CMNA@ ICAIL (pp. 38-42).
Micheli, P., Wilner, S. J., Bhatti, S. H., Mura, M., & Beverland, M. B. (2019). Doing design
thinking: Conceptual review, synthesis, and research agenda. Journal of Product
Innovation Management, 36(2), 124-148.
O'Meara, K., Bennett, J. C., & Neihaus, E. (2016). Left unsaid: The role of work expectations
and psychological contracts in faculty careers and departure. The Review of Higher
Education, 39(2), 269-297.
Pettersen, K. (2016). Understanding uncertainty: thinking through in relation to high-risk
technologies. In Routledge handbook of risk studies (pp. 57-66). Routledge.

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Rapanta, C. (2018). Teaching as Abductive Reasoning: The Role of Argumentation. Informal
Logic, 38(2), 293-311.
Solbrekke, T. D., Englund, T., Karseth, B., & Beck, E. E. (2016). Educating for professional
responsibility: From critical thinking to deliberative communication, or why critical
thinking is not enough. In Educating the Deliberate Professional (pp. 29-44). Springer,
Cham.
Soltanzadeh, S., & Mooney, M. (2016). Systems thinking and team performance
analysis. International Sport Coaching Journal, 3(2), 184-191.
Turner, S. F., Cardinal, L. B., & Burton, R. M. (2017). Research design for mixed methods: A
triangulation-based framework and roadmap. Organizational Research Methods, 20(2),
243-267.

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Appendix
Figure 1: DISC Assessment
(Source: 123test.com., 2019)